Exciting Water-Sprinkling Festival

Yunnan Province is a largely mountainous province bordering on Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. It is home to the richest variety of ethnic groups in China. Its 24 registered minorities account for 34% of the population. The largest groups are the Yi, Bai, Zhuang, and Dai. Yunnan is rich in flora and fauna, and is home to half of all of China's plant and animal species. It has the nation's richest deposits of non-ferrous metals such as lead, zinc, and germanium and also the largest phosphorous reserves. Agricultural products include sugarcane, rubber, and bananas. Yunnan is China's main source of tobacco and cigarettes. Tobacco accounts for 70% of the provincial government's revenue. China's annual consumption, estimated at 1,700,000,000,000 cigarettes is a staggering average for 1,400 for every man, woman and child. We have spent some delightful time in Kunming, the capital, and nicknamed "Spring City". The weather is perhaps the best in China. The Expo in 1999 was a delight as was our trip to Dali.

Ethnic Minority Groups

Yunnan is a microcosm of China in the areas of minority affairs and nationality relations. The province has 25 minority groups, nearly half of the country's total ( 56 ethnic groups ) . With such ethnic diversity it is important to ask the question: what criteria are used to determine minority status and classification? Basically, there are five ways: Race , Language, Culture, Religion, History.
In Yunnan race is not a major consideration, as it is in northwest China where Caucasian exist, Language and culture, however, are of primary interest because they are the basis for classifying most minority nationalities. Religion plays a role in groups such as the Hui ( Muslims ) who, to all intents and purposes, are Chinese except for their faith. Historical background can sometimes tip the balance in determining the status of a people. The Bai , who have a high cultural level and speak a language closely related to Mandarin, are clearly not Chinese on the basis of their long, well-recorded and independent history.

Festival

1. Third Month Fair Festival
The Bai minority mainly inhabit in Dali Autonomous Prefecture which is located in northwest Yunnan. The Third Fair held in Dali each year is the grandest traditional event of the ethnic Bai people at which material and cultural exchanges are carried out. The festival starts on the 15th day and ends on the 21st day of the 3rd Month each year on the lunar calendar. Activities held during the grand event include song and dance performances by the ethnic Bai people, dragon dance, horse races and antiphonal mountain songs meet. At the same time, big fairs for exchanging local and special products are held. 

2. Water Sprinkling Festival
It is Dai's New Year according to Dai's calendar and is Dai's most impressive and solemn festival, which is held on April 13-15. On the festival, people dust the Buddha statues and bless each other by sprinkling water. Other activities include dragon-boat race, throwing pouches, fire lanterns and water lanterns, etc. 
3. Torch Festival 
Yis' Torch Festival is usually celebrated on the 24th of 6th lunar month each year, which is Yi's most impressive celebration. At the night of the Torch festival, people sing and dance around the torches, all the day and night long. The Torch Festival is also a day for Yi's youth to go for rendezvous. 

4. Bath Gathering 
On each year's Spring Festival, all the Lisu people, male or female, gather at the shiliutang Hot Spring of Lushui . By taking baths and washing off dirt with the sacred spring water, people hope for the forthcoming of auspiciousness. Singing contests are held here for the whole evening and young people take the chance to make friends or get engaged. 

5. Lisu Sword Festival
Lisu's traditional Sword festival is held on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month each year. On the festival, people come from all directions and gather at the sword ground to watch the performance of "climing Sword Mountain and diving into Fire Sea”

Beautiful girls of minority

Guizhou Introduction
Guizhou Province, called Qian or Gui for short, is located in the eastern part of southwest China's Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, with Hunan Province to its east, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the south, Yunnan Province to the west, and Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality to the north. Its central location at the southwestern China makes it a crucial hub for the region.

Guizhou is a mountainous province. It covers an area of 176,100 square kilometers. The Province is more than 1,000 meters above ea level. The average sea level is 1,100 meters, adding to its rich mountainous topography. Actually, as much as mountains with its world-famous Karst characterize 92.5% of the Province's total area rock formations of special appeal.

Because of its high altitude and relatively low latitude, which means it is influenced by southeasterly monsoon, the climate in Guizhou varies greatly in different regions. Generally, however, the weather is mild and humid. Abundant moisture makes chilly temperatures and severe heat rather rare. With an average air temperature of 5.2C in January and 24.3C in July, Guizhou is an ideal summer resort.

Guizhou is one of the birthplaces of mankind. There were human beings living on the land as early as about 500,000 or 600,000 years ago and created the antediluvian civilization. In 1382 AD, Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty established a military administration in the area. This was the first provincial military administration in Guizhou. In 1413 AD, Era Yongle of the Ming Dynasty established an administration, and for the first time, Guizhou became a province of China.

Apart from the Han people, there are many other minority groups living in Guizhou. Different ethnic groups account for 36.77% of the Province's total population of 37.5 million. Guizhou is the home to 49 minority peoples, 17 of which view the Province as their cultural home. There are 10 minority groups including Miao (Moung), Buyi(Bouyi), Dong, Tujia, Yi, Gelao, Shui, Hui and Bai, whose populations are more than 100,000. In total, Guizhou has the country's third biggest population of minority groups.

Ethnic Minority Groups：

Apart from the Han people, there are many other minority groups living in Guizhou. Different ethnic groups account for 36.77% of the province's total population of 37.5 million. Guizhou is home to 49 minority peoples, 17 of which view the province as their cultural home. There are 10 minority groups whose population is more than 100,000. These are the Miao, Buyi, Dong, Tujia, Yi , Qilao, Shui and Bai nationalities. Compared with other places, Guizhou has the biggest population of Buyi, Shui and Qilao nationalities. It also has the biggest population of Miao and Dong nationalities. In total, Guizhou has the country's third biggest population of minority groups.

Festivals:

1. Lusheng Festival (Miao) -- Feb. 28-Mar. 7
The most common festival held often during the Spring, which the local Miao people welcome the coming New Year, and bless the bountiful crop harvest and good weather. Everyone can enjoy not only the traditional Lusheng Dance, but also the Lusheng Boxing, which is a perfect combination of ethnic music and Chinese Martial Arts.

2.Tiaohua Festival (Miao) -- April 2
It is one of the most magnificent festivals of all. On this occasion, thousands of Miao people gather here on their typical festival dresses and costumes while singing and dancing joyfully.

3. Sister's Meal Festival (Miao) -- May 1-3
The Sister's Meal Festival begins on the fifteenth day of the third lunar month, when unmarried women harvest rice from the terraced fields and gather together by the river to prepare it. During the festival, women have the family favor, especially the unmarried ones. The family prepares the selected meat, drinks and eats the Sister's Meal for them while entertaining her lover and friends.

4. Siyueba Festival (Miao) -- May 24
In memory of a dedicated cacique, the Miao people offer black rice. From a commemoration, it has now turned to an entertainment activity. Also, livestock are rewarded with food for the coming busy season

5. Dragon Boat Festival (Miao) -- July 9
People assemble at the Qingshui River to hold the dragon boat competition. Eating Zong Zi (a kind of rice dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) is usually associated with the Festival.

6. Liuyueliu (Buyi) -- July 19
This is a special day for the youth as they choose and find his/her dream lover. It generally lasts for three days, and it is said that the couple chosen in this special period will most likely be happy.

7. New Year Festival (Miao) -- Mid-October (Lunar Month )
It differs from village to village. Lots of activities will be held during this occasion. Large banquets will be set for visitors.